Teenager arrested after posting Facebook video supporting Hasina and Mujib

Police in Moulvibazar's Kulaura have arrested a teenager after a video of him expressing support for Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman went viral on Facebook.

The teen, identified as Fahim Islam, was detained during a raid last night (9 August) in the Bhangaripatti area of Kulaura town. He is a ninth-grade student at a local high school.

He was produced before the Moulvibazar court today (10 August) and has since been shown arrested in a case filed at Kulaura Police Station over an alleged attack on students during the July 2024 mass uprising.

According to police, Fahim was listed as one of the unnamed accused in the case, which states he was active on behalf of the fascists during the uprising and records his age as 19.

Police said that after the video went viral on Facebook, they conducted a raid at his home around 10pm last night and detained him.

Golam Afsar, officer-in-charge of Kulaura Police Station, said that during initial questioning, the teenager claimed he made the video without understanding the consequences. 

Fahim's ancestral home is in Beanibazar upazila of Sylhet. His father works at a decorating company, and his mother is a domestic helper. The family lives in a rented house in Bhangaripatti, Kulaura.

In the 47-second video, Fahim is seen sitting in a chair in a room with a table in front of him and a banner featuring the late BNP leader M Saifur Rahman hanging on the wall behind.

He said, "Sheikh Hasina was the only proud woman of Bangladesh. Insha'Allah, she will return one day. Insha'Allah, the Awami League will come back. Joy Bangla, Joy Bangla. I am Sheikh Hasina's man. I can proudly say I am a soldier of Bangabandhu. Insha'Allah, we will meet again on the streets, thank you."